Valve mechanism.



C. LEVINSEN.

VALVE MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 12. I918.

1 ,296,4: 1 2 Patenfed Mar. 4, 1919.

INVENTOR ATTORNEY I OFFICE.

sixes or rnooxtxmunw Yonx.

r M Aam -f. 1' i To 7mm it may concern Be it known that I, CLAUS citizen of the Danish "Monarchy, resident of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valve Mechanisms,

of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates'to improi ements insteam valves and has particular relation to an vimproved valve construction for use in marine steam power plants for the purpose of automatically connecting the exhausts of the auxiliary. engine units with the condenser or with the atmosphere according to whether the main power unit and its condenser are in operation or not in operation.

A valve ofthe type referred to is of advantage in that its use eliminates hand labor for the" purpose of controlling the steam from the auxiliary when the main power unit ceases to operate and consequently it is a means tending to safety and economy in the operation of the power plant. Accordingly, my invention comprises a valve construction as hereinafter set forth and also in the combination of the valve with the main power units. In the accompanying drawing Figure 1 is a sectional view of a valve embodying my invention; and

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view of a marine steam power plant equipped with my improved valve.

Referring to Fig. 1, the valve comprises a valve casing 3 forming a valve chamber 4; having a steam inlet 5 and two steam outlet ports 6 and 7 which lead to the outlets 8 and 9 respectively. The outlet 8 leads to the atmosphere and the outlet 9 leads to the main condenser.

The atmosphere outlet port 6 is controlled by a valve 10 which is seated by the spring 11 adjustable by a bo1t'12 acting against a follower 13. The condenser outlet port 7 is controlled by a valve 14 which is kept closed by the spring 15 adjustable by a bolt 16 acting against a follower 17. The valves 10 and 14: are provided with guiding wings or members 18, 18 as will be understood. The spring 15 is adjusted to exert a greater pressure upon the valve 14 than the pressure of the spring 11 upon the valve 10.

Referring to Fig. 2 the numeral 19 denotes a marine steam engine connected in the usual manner to its condenser 20. 21, 21 denote the steam supply mains. 22 and 23 indicate ,Q Sb 9j 9 ec' s a'fih' Patented Mar. 4, 19 19 Application filediq'ovember 12, 1918. Serial No. 262,118. r

auxiliary power units. 'Thus 22 mayrepresent a pump and 23the generator unit for electric light and power. The number and arrangement of the auxiliary units are immaterial so far as this invention is concerned.

' The auxiliary units are supplied with steam from the boiler (not shown) through the steam pipes 2 1, 24 controlled by valves 25, '25. The exhausts from each auxiliary unit is connected by pipes 27 27 to the valve 3 and the latter is connected by a pipe 28 to the condenser and by a pipe 29 to the atmosphere. Valves 30 control the exhaust pipes 27. 7

The running of the main unit 19f20 causes high vacuum (or low pressure) on: the condenser side of the valve 3, conse-- quently the valve'lt will open under pressure'of the exhaust steam from the auxiliary units, when one or more of these are in operation, and because of the suction from the condenser. The valve 10, will however, re main closed because of the atmospheric pres sure thereon as well as the pressure of the spring 11.

When the main unit 19-20 ceases to operate, the pressure on the condenser side of the valve 3 will increase, consequently the valve lizwill be closed, while the valve 10 will be 8 opened by the pressure of the exhaust steam from the auxiliary units through inlet 5, the steam will then pass out through port 6 and outlet 8 to the atmosphere and vice versa.

Duringthis operation, it will be noticed, that if the spring pressures were equal, a portion of the exhaust steam from the auxiliary units would pass out to the condenser, but because the spring pressure on valve 14 is greater than on the valve 10, only the latter will be operated and the steam pass to the atmosphere. I

When the main unit again starts to operate, the pressure is again reduced on the condenser side of the valve and the valve 1 1 100 will open, the valve 10 will close and the exhaust steam from 5 will again pass to the condenser.

It will be noted that the exhaust steam from the auxiliary units have a constant 105 pressure to overcome in the valve chamber 4. To eliminate this objectionable feature I propose to connect a pipe 35- to the pipes 27,

27 at 36 and lead this pipe to the feed water heater 37. From the latter a pipe 38 leads 10 to another valve 3 which is connected to thecondenser 20 by a pipe 39 and to the atmosphere by a pipe 40. 1 a

By this arrangement advantage is taken of the exhaust steam in the chamber 4 to heat the feed water heater 37 from whence the steam then passes toeither the condenser or the atmosphere, and the back pressure in the valve 3 is relieved;

I claim.

=1:- The' combination with a main steam engine and its condenser, an auxiliarysteam engine, of a valve mechanism comprising a casing provided with a steam inlet and two outlets, said steam inlet being connected with the exhaust side of said auxiliary steam engine, one of the said outlets being connected to the atmosphere, the other of said outlets being connected to the said condenser,-valves for controlling the said two outlets and means for exerting a greater closing pressure on the valve which controls the outlet connected-to, the said condensen engine and a feed water forsaid main en gine, of a valve mechanism connected to the Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing Washington, 10.0." v 1 exhaust'of-said auxiliary steam engine and r the said condenser and communicating with the atmosphere, a similar valve mechanism connected between the said feed water heater and the said condenser and communioating with the atmosphere and means in named valve mechanism for establishing communication between said feed water heater and the said condenser when the latter is' operated and for establishing communication between said feed water, heater and the atmosphere when said main engine and condenser are not in operation;

Signed at'New'York, in the county of New York and State of New York day of Nov. A. D. 1918. i

oLAUs LEv NsEN.

the Commissioner of Patents,

this 6th 

